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| FSIS Expands Public Health Alert for Imported Canadian Beef from XL Foods |
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Congressional and Public Affairs
(202) 720-9113
Adam Tarr
| Editors Note: The third paragraph of this Public Health Alert was updated on October 5, 2012
to reflect the approximate amount of products imported into the U.S. by XL Foods, Inc. |
WASHINGTON, September 28, 2012 – The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is expanding
the Public Health Alert for XL Foods (Canadian Establishment 038) to include all beef and beef products
produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5. FSIS was notified this evening that XL Foods has
expanded their recall to include all beef and beef products produced on the above dates.
Information for Consumers
Because FSIS has been informed that all beef and beef products produced on the above dates are being recalled
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| PREPARING GROUND BEEF FOR SAFE CONSUMPTION
Wash hands before and after handling raw meat with warm/hot (preferred) or cold soapy running water by rubbing hands together vigorously
for at least 20 seconds. Also wash cutting boards, dishes and utensils with hot (preferred), soapy water and clean up any spills right
away. The mechanical action of vigorous rubbing of hands and utensils/surfaces creates friction that helps to dislodge bacteria and
viruses from hands and surfaces. Additionally, warm/hot water helps to dissolve fats/foods, aiding in cleaning/microbe removal and
can also assist in deactivation of pathogens. For more information on hand washing, go to
http://www.cdc.gov/
handwashing.
If soapy water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers
can reduce the number of germs on hands in some situations. However, sanitizers do not eliminate all types of germs, including viruses.
Keep raw meat, fish and poultry away from other food that will not be thoroughly cooked. Use separate cutting boards for raw meat,
poultry, and their juices and thoroughly cooked foods. Thoroughly cook ground meat such as beef to an internal temperature of 160° F,
as measured with a food thermometer, before eating. Refrigerate raw meat and poultry within two hours after purchase (one hour if
temperatures exceed 90° F). Refrigerate cooked meat and poultry within two hours after cooking.
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by XL Foods, the Agency is using this public health alert to make the public aware that these products are
considered adulterated and should be returned to the place of purchase or destroyed. Products subject to the
recall include, but are not limited to, steaks, roasts, mechanically tenderized steaks and roasts, and ground
beef.
Previously, FSIS reported that approximately 890,000 pounds of boneless beef trim were received by U.S. firms from
XL Foods, Inc. After conducting effectiveness checks, FSIS now estimates that approximately 1.1 million pounds of
trim and approximately 1.4 million pounds of primal and sub-primal cuts used to produce steaks, roasts, mechanically
tenderized steaks and roasts, and ground beef were received by U.S. firms. Information for consumers and the
current retail distribution list are posted on FSIS' website
at www.fsis.usda.gov/
FSIS_Recalls/
Open_Federal_Cases/
index.asp.
Information for Industry
FSIS has reason to believe, based on information provided by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA),
that beef from cattle slaughtered during the period associated with the recall was produced under insanitary
conditions that resulted in a high event period (a period when the trim from carcasses exhibited an unusually
high frequency of positive findings for the possible presence of E. coli O157:H7). Therefore, all
products produced on the affected dates are considered adulterated and must be either destroyed or verified
as having received a full lethality treatment.
CFIA is overseeing the effectiveness of the recall in Canada and FSIS is overseeing the effectiveness in the
United States. FSIS continues to verify that all receivers of affected beef from the Canadian-initiated recall
have been notified and have removed product from commerce, and will take appropriate action if prohibited
activity is found. FSIS will update the retail consignee list as FSIS verifies information received during
the recall effectiveness verification process.
FSIS testing of raw boneless beef trim product from Canadian Establishment 038, XL Foods, Inc., confirmed
positive for E. coli O157:H7 on September 3, 2012. After alerting the CFIA of the positive results,
the agencies launched an investigation including additional testing, and CFIA announced a recall by XL Foods,
Inc. of a variety of ground beef products on Sept. 16. FSIS also issued a Public Health Alert (PHA) on
September 20, 2012, provided updated information on
September 21 and September 26, 2012.
Today, the CFIA notified FSIS that XL Foods is recalling all product produced on August 24, 27, 28, 29 and September 5.
Today's Public Health Alert applies to all beef and beef products produced by Canadian Establishment 038, XL Foods, Inc.
on these dates.
GENERAL INFORMATION
FSIS issues Public Health Alerts to make the public aware of a public health hazard. FSIS is not announcing
a recall at this time because the goal of such an action is to have the establishment most directly associated
with producing adulterated product remove the product from commerce. In this case, the establishment was
XL Foods, Inc., a Canadian firm, and that recall has been initiated in Canada.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and
in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are
the most susceptible to foodborne illness.
FSIS advises all consumers to safely prepare their raw meat products, including fresh and frozen, and only
consume ground beef that has been cooked to a temperature of 160° F. The only way to confirm that ground
beef is cooked to a temperature high enough to kill harmful bacteria is to use a food thermometer that measures
internal temperature.
Consumers with food safety questions can "Ask Karen," the FSIS virtual representative available 24 hours a day
at AskKaren.gov. The toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline 1-888-MPHotline
(1-888-674-6854) is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Eastern Time)
Monday through Friday. Recorded food safety messages are available 24 hours a day.
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Related Information
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Last Modified: October 5, 2012 |
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